Our Mission: “To inspire and empower others so that they may provide for themselves in ethical and efficient ways,to support and expand our relationship with nature and to build community with others”

NEWS and UPCOMING EVENTS﻿

If you haven't noticed, Provisions has moved!

In the spring of 2017, Provisions Permaculture took the leap to farming! Transforming a wild and unruly landscape into a productive and abundant organic vegetable farm has been a true delight and a passion necessary to follow. I have witnessed the ebb and flow of nature as I am here merely as a fellow traveller doing my best to create the environment for diversity, balance and harmony in the most holistic ways I know how. Find me at the Penticton and Naramata Farmers Markets from June-October. Come visit the farm anytime and see the magic for yourself!

Andrew and Lily's Permablitz

Andrew and Lily are creating an urban oasis and need your help!! Things are already underway but on June 3rd we will finish it off! Every blade of grass will be eliminated and every drop of rain water will be utilized. This is a day planned for community building, education and very rewarding labour.Come for the whole day or just a couple hours. Any help is greatly appreciated. We will start at 9am and go all day! Please RSVP below for more information and address.What to expect: -Guidance on every aspect of each installation-Installing underground rain barrels and rain harvesting pathways-Planting trees and shrubs in a perennial food forest-Building a herb spiral-Learning how to build soil and create natural fertilizers-Build a compost bin-Have fun and meet new people and enjoy a day outdoorsWhat to bring:-Any garden tools such as shovels, rakes, hoes etc (make sure they are marked with your name)-Sturdy shoes-A change of wardrobe, extra layers, rain gear. Its Calgary after all-A sense of adventure and a smileAndrew and Lily will provide food and beverages for you.​ PLEASE RSVP HERE

2017 Welcomes New Friends and New Adventures!

While perusing the produce at my local grocery store one day, I picked up an organic cucumber. Imagine my surprise when I saw the sticker and noticed that little cucumber was born and raised in SPAIN! When we vote with our dollars, we contribute to global production and it dictates how, where and why our food system operates. Within Canada, we have the ability to grow our own food. A cucumber from Spain has a large carbon footprint, and the trickle down of your dollar to that Spanish farmer is minuscule at best. So how do we change?​ Provisions Permaculture has the passion to empower you to grow your own FRESH, local and healthy food to nurture and nourish yourself and your family. You'll also have a POSITIVE impact on the environment by growing in your own space, no matter how big or how small. Contact us today for your consultation and design!! Now is the time!!

Open Garden Tour

Sunday August 14th 3-6pm @ 140 Quigley Close Cochrane​Ever wonder what a permaculture garden looks like? Curious about the way other people garden? What works? What doesn't? Come see what is possible, even in a Zone 2 such as Cochrane! This is your opportunity to explore private gardens, get ideas for your own space, and ask questions to the home owner/gardener about gardening life here in Cochrane. Provisions Permaculture has organized this day to inspire you to grow beautiful, healthy and local food, by creating elegant and stunning landscapes. All are welcome. FREE of charge! Home made/grown ice tea served with love. Tour begins anytime between 3-6pm at Provisions Permaculture's HQ (address below) and from there you will get the addresses and maps of other gardens open and available. Perennial gardens, traditional veggie gardens, active and abundant perennial food forests, all unique and intriguing. We hope you join us! No RSVP required.

Before and AFTER - Naoedi and Harlend

In 2012 we hosted our very first Permablitz for Naoedi and Harlend in Riverview Cochrane. This space incorporates a french drain and utilization of lawn space, to a food forest. When I visited today, July 2016, I was overwhelmed at the edible abundance. Cherries, gogis, raspberries, strawberries, haskap (done now) currants and apples. This particular forest has been slightly neglected due to the initial homeowners moving and the house now vacant, but nature doesn't mind. It is continuing to thrive and provide.

Before and AFTER - Blanche

Three years ago we blitzed a front yard in Sunset Ridge in Cochrane. We started with a blank slate in a residential lot and the goal was to grow as much food as possible. The homeowner refused even a single blade of grass and we were happy to accommodate. Being up in Sunset Ridge, we needed to plan a windbreak for the aggressive winds that occur. I was happy to see the food forest in full bloom with a bounty of currants, berries and rhubarb already by the end of June. Hummingbirds, bees and other beneficial insects were enjoying the blooming perennials including the honeysuckle vines. Thank you Blanche for allowing us to develop and install this space for you.

July Permablitz Bowness Calgary

Bowness Permablitz Photo Album July 2016

The second Permablitz of the season will be in Bowness at a project that is already underway but needs our help to complete it fully. This is a large beautiful space with two separate food forests, raised garden beds, a herb spiral, water feature, compost, privacy screen and seating area. Everyone is welcome! Please dress for any kind of weather, solid footwear, and bring your favourite garden tools! Please RSVP so we can plan on feeding you well!​Save the date! Monday July 11th 10am-5pm7503 39 Ave NW CalgaryRSVP here

Permablitz Opportunity in Royal Oak

This year's first Permablitz will be held the first week of June in Royal Oak. Thaya and Rob have a small space with the desire to eliminate all grass, grow as much food as possible, and beautify their community with a permaculture space. We will be installing a perennial food forest with water harvesting earthworks and a much needed wind break. Please join us for the opportunity to learn about permaculture systems and make new friends. Please bring your favourite garden tools including a shovel. The more, the merrier! Please RSVP so we can estimate food and drink requirements. Hope to see you there!

Spring 2016 Workshops

Wish you had a beautiful garden but too overwhelmed by the planning?Are you tired of paying exorbitant prices for fresh produce?Are you concerned about the pesticides, herbicides and other hidden chemicals in your food?Do you toil away endlessly every year just to lose everything to an early frost, bugs or poor soil conditions?Do you want to enjoy the pride and joy that comes from a meal prepared directly from your backyard? This year Provisions Permaculture has cooked up some fantastic workshops to turn that thumb GREEN! Have NO idea what Permaculture is? Start HERE with our Intro to Permaculture evening.Want to learn exactly how to plan and prepare for this year's growing season? Then our Spring Fling Workshop will be the perfect way to get you inspired and connected with all the right tools for a successful season.More advanced workshops will be announced soon, including Soil Building, Rain Water Harvesting and Designing a Perennial Food Forest.Email us if you would like more information on upcoming events.

NEW! Pro Permaculture Advice Package

This year, we will be offering a new service. Many people call us with questions and concerns regarding their own garden space. The Pro Advice Package is an on-site consultation up to 2 hours where we will discuss in-depth and address all of your concerns. If you have questions, we have the answers, and would be happy to walk you through a prioritized plan of attack on how to get your space ship shape for optimal production with the least amount of effort. Bookings beginning April 2016 and fill fast. Additional charges for distances travelled greater than 50km beyond Calgary's city limits. Standard Pro Package $200Email us to book or fill out a contact form for more information.

FoodX: Cochrane Follow UP

Photo courtesy of Milkwood Permaculture

Last spring at Cochrane FoodX we expanded as a group to discuss creating a community orchard in Cochrane. The next planning session will be Sunday Feb 22 @ 7pm @ 140 Quigley Close Cochrane. Since the development and planning is still in its infancy, everyone is welcome to join. Please RSVP if you would like to attend.

Worm Bins!

Its February, how does your compost bin look? One solid frozen block of ice I'm sure. If you have ever wanted to compost in Alberta 365 days a year, here is the answer! Composting with worms INDOORS is not as gross as it sounds. These little squirmies do all the dirty work without the smell and minus the 'ick' factor. Kids love them and they are the lowest maintenance 'pets' they'll ever have! Composting worms (red wrigglers) digest your food scraps and create 'castings' which is a very potent, natural and organic fertilizer that you can add to your indoor potted plants, seed starts and directly into your outdoor garden spring and summer. They also produce a 'leechate' (liquid) that can be diluted with rainwater for a free, homemade and natural fertilizer as well. This spring, Provisions is stocking a limited supply of fully functional, already composting, worm bins, worms included for only $35! The bins are small enough to fit under your kitchen sink. Please click here if you would like to place an order or learn more!

2014 WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED!!

Winter has to end eventually, doesn't it? Now is the time to get excited and start preparing for a LONG awaited Spring! Check out our WORKSHOP page for more details about classes as early as March 30! Register now for early bird specials!

Interested in a CSA Share?? SOLD OUT!

CSA’s abound in communities where consumers demand wholesome, ethically grown and nutritious food and farmers farm to build their communities, their soils and to contribute to the health and wellbeing of everyone who eats their food.Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) is an alternative, locally based model of agriculture and food distribution. Pledge to support a local farm this year and receive nutritious, delicious and organic food in exchange.

Fisher FarmsBased in Didsbury, AB, they practice sustainable agriculture, Permaculture, and being contentious stewards of the land. They are considering the Cochrane CookHouse has a drop off point this season. However, we need a minimum of 40 members to make this viable?

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

Full – 13 boxes from early July to Early October. This will be plenty for 2 adults and 2-3 children, or 2-3 keen vegetarians. Expect a variety of 7-9 items. Cost $695

Half – 13 boxes from early July to Early October. This will be plenty for 1-2 adults, or 1 keen vegetarian. Expect a variety of 7-9 items. Cost $385

If so, sign our formal interest sheet today by sending us your, first and last name, email address, phone number and requested share size

IN PERSON: Cochrane CookHouse 519 First Street West, Cochrane AB

BY EMAIL: tara.anderson@cochrane.caInclude, First and Last Name, Email Address , Phone Number and Share SizePHONE: 403-932-4292

** There is no guarantee that fisher farms will be delivering to Cochrane this is simply an initial inquiry to see how many are interested. Thank you for supporting local agriculture **The deadline for signing up is Monday March 17th Let’s Bring a CSA to Cochrane!Thanks in advance for passing this message along to everyone you think that may be interested.

SUNSET RIDGE COCHRANE PERMABLITZ PHASE 1 COMPLETE!

BEFORE

353 Sunset View Cochrane, AlbertaBlitz day was gorgeous and we had a handful of brave and strong volunteers. Thank you to the Oosmans, Keane, Wendy, Vince, Travis, and of course to Blanche and her family!Check out this link to see all the photos!

AFTERFirst we installed a rain tank and hid it with a trellis, climbing vines and an arbor. We channeled all the overflow to feed the wind break through weeping tile and emptied it into a swale near the sidewalk to feed the perennial bed. The bed is full of plants that will attract pollinators, provide habitat and control pests. The cedar raised beds were built by VinCo construction and to the right we built some soil with sheet mulching for a future herb garden!

Blanche would like to invite everyone to join us for PHASE 2 on Saturday October 5th. We need 15 people confirmed to give it one last kick at the can before winter shows up. We are Blitzing Blanche's back yard this time complete with rain water harvesting, a wind break, privacy screen and of course, a food forest! Click HERE to RSVP.

Come one, come all! Strangers will become friends and lunch is provided. Please bring sturdy footwear and dress appropriately for sun or rain. Extra tools are always welcome such as wheelbarrows, shovels, pitchforks, and hoes.Please RSVP to karla@provisionspermaculture.com or find us on Facebook

Spring Workshops Coming Up! April 26, 2013

Cochrane Cookhouse

Provisions Permaculture and the Cochrane Cookhouse is teaming up to present some amazing educational workshops this spring!On May 13 learn about the beauty and simplicity of Permaculture with "Lets Grow Some Food"Click here to register! On June 1 prepare to roll up your sleeves and get down and dirty. A four hour workshop on composting! We will build a hot compost pile together, brew some compost tea and put together your very own worm compost bin! "Compost Tea, Fertilizers & Worms"Click here to register!

COCHRANE AND DISTRICT TRADE SHOW May 10 & 11, 2013

"PERMA-WHAT?!"Come and see us at the Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce Trade ShowThis is our first year as exhibitors and we are very excited. We have lots of fun things planned, including the results of our germination experiments, vermiposting bins, design games and much, much more!Friday, May 10 4:00 pm - 10:00 pmSaturday, May 11 10:00 am - 4:00 pmSpray Lakes Sawmill Family Sports Center800 Griffin Road EastCochrane, AB403-932-1635for more information www.cochranechamber.ca

"In every winter lies the hopeful seeds of spring" March 2013

This year Provisions Permaculture is beginning the seedling stage as an experiment! Follow our blog as the seedlings grow in three separate mixtures in recycled containers!! Regular potting soil, Worm Castings and a 50/50 mix of both. We have used egg shells and cardboard egg cartons with the Worm Casting mix to stay organic.We will be documenting germination time, growth and watering requirements.What mix do you think will be the most successful?Which mix do you hypothesize will need the most water? The least? Seeds plunged into the darkness today: Poblano and Chili Peppers, Quinoa, Thai and Sweet Basil, Cicco Broccoli, Rainbow Tomatoes, Cox SuperSweet Cherry Tomato, Dill, Cilantro, and Mountain Mint.We'll be checking daily to get the sneak peak at those beautiful green seedling heads!Check out the gallery below to see what materials we used!

LAST PERMABLITZ OF THE SEASON!!

Its a LAWN MASSACRE!last permablitz of the season Sunday Sept 16 10am-5pm54 Bow Ridge Rd, Cochrane ABInstalling large water harvesting earthworks on CONTOUR and a perennial food forest! Anyone interested please RSVP to Karla at 403-818-0153COME ONE COME ALL!Bring your friends and your musclesLunch provided!Can't wait... the weather should be amazing!This will be quite the transformation. No blade of grass will be spared!!

Naeodi and Harlend's Completed Food ForestMay 12, 2012

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who came out and helped. We had a beautiful Saturday building community and a garden together. Thank you to Teresa Coulter, Travis Cox, Valerie Jeff and Daniel McKracken, Amanda Wildeman, Alison Steward, and of course Harlend, Naeodi and Elise for hosting and feeding us such a delicious lunch.

PREMIERE PERMABLITZ!!May 12, 2012

On May 12, I will be facilitating my very first permablitz at the home of Naeodi and Harlend. Start time is 9am at 70 Riverview Circle Cochrane AB. 10am-4pm We will be implementing and planting a full food forest in a water harvesting basin, also discussing vermi-posting and pest management after we install a bat box. Bring your shovels, wheel barrows, work gloves and warm clothing (sunscreen and a hat too, you never know!!) Lunch is providedWE NEED YOUR HELP!!Watch us turn this traditional grass landscape into an urban permaculture growing oasis!!If you would like to attend, please contact Karla Cox 403-818-0153

TOWN OF COCHRANE REBATES IN THE NAME OF WATER CONSERVATIONMay 6, 2012

Picture care of Rain Water Harvesting Volume 1 Brad Lancaster

The Town of Cochrane is kicking off spring with an amazing rebate program. If you are a Cochrane resident and planning on some spring landscaping please consider using this program. It is first come, first serve. The focus is getting residents to eliminate the need of watering grass. Sod is high maintenance requiring fertilizers, mowing, weeding and watering. It produces nothing and gives you nothing back other than a green surface. An alternative is a food producing system (i.e Food Forest) using water harvesting earthworks, swapping regular sod with Fescue Sod, laying mulch layers and paths over your existing grass and at the very least, installing rain barrels. For more information on the rebate program click here For more permaculture help and design info, click HERE or email by clicking HERE.

SPRING 'Almost' April 2012

"There's a singular moment every year when you're absolutely sure that spring has arrived. It's an indefinable mixture of the scent of bare earth, of the bold colour of new blooms dotting a winter-weary landscape, of a softness that's unlike any other time of year. The snow may still fly and cold winds blow, but you know in your heart that the tides have turned and renewal is imminent. It's as if, just for that moment, the world inhales, poised upon a new beginning" -CG 2010

GLENBOW COMMUNITY GARDEN PERMABLITZ March 13, 2012

Cochrane Community Garden Society, Cochrane Environmental Action Committee, Big Sky Permaculture (Calgary) and Provisions Permaculture are coming together to adapt the Glenbow Community Garden according to permaculture principles on April 28th. This is a very exciting project that will plant the permaculture seed in the town of Cochrane. The Permablitz is a fun and exciting day of hands on permaculture installations. The focus is strengthening community bonds and learning something new. CEAC and Big Sky is offering a 1 day Introduction to Permaculture course April 27th, followed by a full day Blitz on April 28th. Space is filling up fast, so book at www.bigskypermaculture.ca or contact CEAC for more information www.cochrane-environment.org Provisions Permaculture will be continuing the Permablitz network in Cochrane, so let us know if you are interested in Blitzing your own property!

SPRING FEVER! March 12, 2012

With this gorgeous spring weather, it is hard to believe we may still see winter's force, but the light is at the end of the tunnel and the birds are telling me that spring is on its way! Even my garlic is brave enough to poke its head through the mulch and enjoy this sunshine!Yesterday my seedlings were transplanted so they could stretch their roots. I mixed sea soil with fresh worm castings and they found new homes in my sunshine filled window-sills. I cross pollinated my tomato varieties and have some promising starts. Also started for the garden this year: Wild Bergamot, Comfrey, Calendula, Mountain Mint, Ancho Poblano Chile, Seabuckthorn, De Cicco Broccoli, Hearts of Gold Melon, Rapini, Crimson Sweet Watermelon, Native Grasses and Siam Queen Thai Basil.

SPIN FARMING March 2, 2012

On March 2, 2012 I attended a SPIN farming seminar hosted by Verge Permaculture. Curtis Stone from Green City Acres http://www.greencityacres.comSPIN (Small Plot INtensive Farming)We were all inspired as he spoke of creating urban farm plots within the city of Kelowna, BC. On less than an acre, within a 4km radius, Curtis has satisfied the hunger for local, organic and healthy fresh food literally at your doorstep. With three profitable revenue streams; CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) baskets, farmer's markets and local restaurants, Green City Acres has pushed through the sentiment of having a front lawn. In agreement with home owners, which has now created a waiting list, he has used their space to bring the beauty of gardens and the awareness of food production back to the community. The work they are doing to create sustainable and realistic food production is inspiring others to re-think their high maintenance grass for a more productive landscape within their reach. I was fortunate enough to visit one of his sites this year at the beginning of March (pictured) and was astonished and jealous to see that there is already a bed of spinach ready for harvest. Green City Acres employs hoop houses early spring and late fall to extend harvest. A nifty trick to utilize here in our own climate.